Baton



Sept. 9, 1941.

W. GREENQUIST ET AL BATON Filed Oct. 17, 1940 lmlm GreeHZu/ISZ; & Faber? 672mg Walier Patented Sept. 9, 1941 Walter Grcen uist and Robert Greets. ran, Fiorence, Wis.

Application ()ctobcr 17, 1940, Serial No. 361,645

((11. S i e???) 3 Ciaims.

Our invention relates to batons and has as one of the principal objects thereof the provision of a baton capable of being manipulated in the usual twirling routine and which is so construc ed and arranged whereby a flag or pennant may be displayed to provide an attractive appearance and which flag may be caused to disappear within the baton when desired.

Another object of our invention is to provide a baton of the above described character which is so constructed and arranged that when the flag is furled within the baton no protruding parts will extend beyond the periphery of the shaft to interfere with the twirling operation.

An important object of our invention is to provide a device of the character described which is simple in construction, durable in use, cilicient in operation and economical in manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, appended claims and annexed drawing.

Referring to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of our baton with the flag being furled therein.

Figure 2 is a side elevation with the flag unfurled and extending without the baton for display.

Figure 3 is a detail longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scale.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken on the o line 5-5 of Figure 3.

In practising our invention, as illustrated in the drawing, we provide an elongated hollow cylinder or shaft 5 provided at one end with a sponge rubber ball 6 and at the opposite end with a closure plug 1 on which is mounted a rubber tip 8. Axially disposed within the cylinder 5 is a shaft 9 having its end, adjacent the ball 6, rotatably mounted in a bearing lil fixed within the cylinder 5. The opposite end So of the shaft 9 extends through a bearing H arranged in spaced relation from the plug 1 and which bearing H is fixed to the cylinder 5.

The end 901 of the shaft is rotatably mounted in the plug 1 and has fixed thereon, for rota tion therewith, a collar l2 disposed between the plug 1 and the bearing ll. The side face of the collar l2, adjacent the plug 1, is provided with ratchet teeth 13 for engaging one end of a latch member M, the latter being slidably disposed within a slot l5 formed in the plug 7. The opposite end of the member I4 is fashioned with a right-angularly disposed portion i6 engaging one end of a coil spring 11 seated within a socket l8 formed in the plug. The spring ll serves to normally maintain the latch member [4 in engagement with the teeth l3 of the collar i2. The plug 1 is also fashioned with an elongated opening l9 communicating with the slot l5 and has slidably disposed therein the leg 2% of a T-shaped finger piece ii, the latter having an outer elongated cross portion 22 axially slidable over the peripheral face of the plug and adjacent end of the cylinder 5.

The end of the cylinder 5, adjacent the bearing iii, is fashioned with an elongated slot 23 through which is operated a flag 24 to furled and unfurled positions. One end of the flag is attached to the shaft 9 while the opposite end is fashioned with a relatively thick seam or corded hem 25 for seating engagement within a seat 26 paralleling the slot 23. The slot 23 is of a width to preclude entrance of the seam 25 within the cylinder as clearly illustrated in Figur 4 of the drawing.

Adjacent the bearing l l and between said bearing and the flag 24, the shaft 9 has sleeved thereon a coil spring 21 having one end anchored within the bearing H as at 28 and the opposite end fixed to said shaft 9.

In operation, the flag being in furled position as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the seam 25 is grasped by the fingers and actuated out of the cylinder 5 against the tension of the spring 21. As the shaft 9 is rotated by the unfurling operation of the flag, the teeth I3 of the collar l2 effect ratchet engagement with the member i l and cooperate therewith to maintain the shaft in a desired position and the flag unfurled with the spring 21 in tensioned condition. When it is desired to furl the flag, the portion 22 of the finger piece 2| is operated towards the tip 8 thereby releasing the latch member M from engagement with the teeth 13 and which operation permits the spring 21 to rotate the shaft and wind the nag thereabouts with the seam 25 disposed within the seat 26 as heretofore described.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that our baton is utilized not only as an ordinary twirling baton during a twirling routine but on a certain beat of a march, the operator may conveniently unfurl the flag to produce a flag routine and which when finished may operate the finger piece to effect disappearing of the flag within the baton thereby producing unusual and attractive effects in parade work.

Without further elaboration the foregoing will so fully explain the invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all the fea tures of the invention be used conjointly since they may be employed advantageously in various combination and sub-combinations.

It is obvious that the invention is not confined to the herein described use therefor as it may be utilized for any purpose to which it is adap able. It is therefore to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific construction as illustrated and described as the same is only illustrative of the principles of operation, which are capable of extended application in various forms, and that the invention comprehends all construction Within the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

l. A twirling baton comprising a hollow cylinder formed at one end with an elongated slot and with a seat paralleling said slot and disposed inwardly of the peripheral face of said cylinder, a plug closing the opposite end of said cylinder, a shaft rotatably journaled Within said cylinder, a spring sleeved on said shaft and connecting the latter to said cylinder for rotating said shaft in one direction when said spring is in tensioned condition about said shaft, a ratchet collar fixed to said shaft, a spring pressed latch member carried by said plug and engaging said ratchet collar to maintain said spring in tensioned condi- 5 tion, a flag furled about said shaft and having one end attached to said shaft and the opposite end extending through said slot and provided with a hem disposed in said seat and within the marginal confines of said peripheral face, said flag operable to unfurled position through said slot for tensioning said spring.

2. A twirling baton comprising a hollow cylinder formed at one end with an elongated slot and with a seat paralleling said slot and disposed inwardly of the peripheral face of said cylinder, a plug closing the opposite end of said cylinder, a shaft rotatably journaled within said cylinder, a spring sleeved on said shaft and connecting the latter to said cylinder for rotating said shaft in one direction when said spring is in tensioned condition about said shaft, a ratchet collar fixed to said shaft, a spring pressed latch member carried by said plug and engaging said ratchet collar to maintain said spring in tensioned condition, a flag furled about said shaft and having one end attached to said shaft and the opposite end extending through said slot and provided with a hem disposed in said seat and within the marginal confines of said peripheral face, said flag operable to unfurled position through said slot for tensioning said spring, and a finger piece attached to said latch member and operable to release said latch member from said ratchet whereby to effect furling of said flag about said shaft and said hem seated in said seat.

3. A twirling baton comprising a hollow substantially cylindriform body formed with a flag receiving slot, a flag extending through said slot and provided with inner and outer ends and with the outer end formed with a hem, and spring actuated means mounted within said body and attached to said inner end for urging said flag into said body, the faces of said body defining the sides of said slot being disposed in close spatiality and formed with recesses defining a hem receiving seat disposed inwardly of the periphery of said body for receiving said hem and coacting with said means for maintaining said hem Within the seat and marginal confines of said periphery and said flag in tensioned. condition through said slot.

WALTER GREENQUIST. ROBERT GRUETZMAN. 

